Bill C-18 committee  Yes, we think the service agreements definitely should be put in place. There should be compliance arrangements to make sure that the service improves to a level that farmers should be able to expect out of the agreements. We would encourage the minister to push that file as quic

Bill C-18 committee  That's an excellent question. First of all, we're very concerned about the lack of empowerment of farmers against a very consolidated grain handling industry, as well as against the railways. That's one of the reasons why FNA is where FNA is, because in the face and in the wake

Bill C-18 committee  Creating legislation to save small farmers is a whole new subject. Are we concerned about the family farm? Yes. Are we concerned about small to medium-sized farms having less power in the marketplace? Yes, but that's exactly why we are doing what we're doing. That's why FNA was s

Bill C-18 committee  Yes, we're looking at exactly that as well.

Bill C-18 committee  Actually, our look at this has been a little more technical and a little more objective than that. We've been looking at areas in which we think we can help facilitate the process. We haven't done a macro-analysis of the sort you're talking about.

Bill C-18 committee  We think there's opportunity in marketing. In fact, FNA started an entity that we call FNA Foods a few years ago. FNA Foods was there strictly to aggregate, in this case special crops, and find niche markets for those special crops. We believe there may be a lot of benefit and m

Bill C-18 committee  Mr. Martin, you will probably be disappointed in my answer. I sympathize with your constituents in your riding. I also know where you're coming from when you talk about process, etc. However, in the discussion in our organization—and perhaps therein lies the difference—I represen

Bill C-18 committee  My role here is strictly to try to, as I said earlier, help be an architect in a system that will facilitate optimizing farmers' revenue, reducing their costs, making sure they're cost-competitive, and empowering them in whatever grain handling, transportation, and marketing envi

Bill C-18 committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I apologize that I am the only thing standing between you and either a bar or a bed, but I will try to be as brief as I can. It is a pleasure for me to be here. As the chair already mentioned, I'm here on behalf of Farmers of North America. Far